The Segals longstanding dream of traveling became a reality when they converted a school bus into a home

BUCKLE UP!

“Are we actually moving into that?” Gedaliah exclaimed, pointing at the giant yellow school bus parked in his driveway.

“For a whole year?” Avi questioned doubtfully.

“Without my friends?” Esther chimed in.

“Is that a bus?” four-year-old Shaya blurted out.

“Yes, yes, and yes!” The Segal parents nodded to their children.

“Wow,” Chaim marveled.

The Segal children had known this was going to happen. They had been planning it over the past few months, and they were super excited. But it was still a shock.

“Everybody hop in. We’re hitting the road!” Mrs. Segal called, swinging the yellow school bus doors open wide. Their mother loves adventure, and the ginormous grin on her face was catchy.

With their luggage packed and their house rented out, they had nothing else to do but head inside.

The Segal family of seven from Silver Spring, Maryland, didn’t always call a school bus home. They used to live just like any other family. However, their longstanding dream of traveling became a reality when a friend of the family mentioned the concept of converting a school bus into a home.  After searching for a while, they found a renovated school bus for sale. People call these buses “Skoolies.” Playing on the word, the Segals adopted the name TheSkoolieSeven.

CONVERTING TO A HOME ON WHEELS

“Whoa! This is crazy!” Chaim exclaimed, throwing his backpack onto his bed.

Originally, the bus was built to accommodate three people while traveling, and only had a master bedroom situated off the kitchen. Yet, in a mere three weeks, a skilled handyman had transformed the space, building bunk beds and replacing the bathtub with a compact shower. What surprised Chaim most was the height of the ceilings, noticeably taller than the buses he had been on during camp. The kitchen was practical and functional, fitted with a three-burner gas range, a nearly full-size refrigerator/freezer, and a farmhouse sink. The countertops matched the style of their previous home, and a separate dining area added a touch of completeness to the setup.

“After seeing this, I don’t even mind that we gave our house out to renters!” Chaim told his siblings who were searching the bus like he was. “This bus is so cool!”

They didn’t reply. Instead, they poked their heads into cabinets, or under beds, asking their parents what everything did or how it worked. Their bus looked just like any other house, but in miniature. And it moved!

Speaking of wheels, Chaim was looking forward to taking his bike on long rides with his siblings around the various beautiful parks they’d be staying in.

Rabbi Segal’s voice broke his wonder, “Kids! Back here. Let me show you where to put your stuff.”

As they all gathered in the space between the bunk beds, Rabbi Segal demonstrated, “Underneath every bed is a space. Just pull up the bed and —” he effortlessly lifted the bed board, revealing a hidden compartment.

Chaim’s eyes widened; it was the coolest thing he had ever seen. He couldn’t wait to unpack! A broad smile crept across his face. This wasn’t going to be as bad as he thought…

The Segal’s school bus stretches forty feet long and seven feet wide. Designed specifically for adventures on the road, it’s packed with many smart features. The roof is raised to seven feet tall to provide enough headroom. In the kitchen, the cabinets all have a magnetic lock so that nothing falls out while they’re driving.  Additionally, the bus boasts a shower, hidden storage drawers beneath the beds, and even solar panels on the roof. These panels ensure that the bus battery doesn’t drain while running the fridge/freezer.